Electrode



Jan. 1, 1935. A. L BRANDT, s|=i4 ELECTRODE Filed arch 5, 1929 Patented Jan. l., 1935 Y 1 l UNI-'rao- ,STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE Alfred L. Brandt, Sr., Buffalo, N. Y., assigner to Flexlume Corporation, Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of New York i Application March 5, 1929, Serial No. 344,139

6 Claims. (Cl. 176-126) This invention relates to improvements in the as glass. While the electrode and the glass may i construction of electrodes for electroluminesbe of any suitable shape. I preferably utilize a cent tubes. The improvements are disclosed foraminated cylindrical electrode element and but not claimed in a copending application searrange it within a chamber provided by a cyrially numbered 320,150. The principal object of lindrical glass body 5. I prefer the use of a 5 the invention is to provide an improved form body 5 having one end closed as at 6 and its of electrode construction by which the rate of other end reduced to provide a restricted convaporization is decreased. necting passage '7 between the chamber and the According to the invention the active or metal tube proper. This construction while not es- 10 element of the electrode is partially embedded sential to the present invention, is preferred 10 in a dielectric and heat conductive substance because of the advantages attending itsuse, all such as glass, a portion of, the surface of the of which are pointed out in the copending apmetal element being exposed as an active area. plioation noted. The metal electrode element 4 I have discovered that the anchorage of the elecis anchored in the body 5 in any suitable mantrode in this manner while obviously decreasing ner. This may, for example, be accomplished 15 the active area of the electrode, nevertheless eiby heating the septum so as to cause it to soften fects a reduction in the rate of vaporization over lto the point where it iiows into and fills the what it otherwise would be under similar opforamina of the metal element of the electrode, erating conditions if the area of the electrode leaving a suitable area of the latter exposed as were fully exposed to the gas. an active area. 20 The reason why this mode of construction The septum 5 may be supported directly from should effect a reduction inthe rate of vaporizathe reentrant stem 2 but preferably is supported tion is not, at this time, denitely known. It by an axially disposed glass cylinder 8, the opis, however, believed that the intimate contact posite ends of which are provided with annular 26 provided between the metal element of the elecsupporting flanges 9 of a diameter substantial- 25 trode and the substance in which it is anchored, ly equal to the inside diameter of the tube 1. facilitates the transfer of heat from the metal It will, of course, be understood that the dielement to the substance while the latter proelectric part in which the metal element of the vides a more conductive path for the iiow of electrode is embedded may have various forms 30 heat than has heretofore been provided. In and that it is generically a supportfor said ele- 30 other words, it would appear that this construcment, the cylindrical septum shown being merely tion increases the rate at which the heat is reone of the forms in which such support may be moved from the metal element of the electrode provided. i to an extent such as to eect a decrease in the Having fully described my invention, I claim:

working temperature of suchelement. 1. An electroluminescent tube having an elec- 35 The electrode being particularly intended for trode comprising a dielectric support and an use in connection with electrolurninescent tubes, electrically conductive element, said element is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as having a face which provides an active area and applied to such a tube. In said drawing: a back which is substantially coextensive with Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the said face, said back being fused to and partially 40 electrode construction showing its relation to embedded in said support.

the terminal portion of a tube. v 2. An electroluminescent tube having an elec- Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Figtrode comprising a refractory dielectric support ure 1. and an electrically conductive element, said ele- The electroluminescent tube is suiliciently inment having a face which provides an active area 45 dicated by a showing of its terminal portion 1 and a back which is substantially coextensive in which the reentrant stem is provided with a with said face, said back being fused to and parglass seal 2 through which the lead-in wire 3 tially embedded in said support. passes. The element 4 of the electrode to which 3. An electroluminescent tube having an electhe lead-in wire 3 is connected, may be comtrode comprising a dielectric support and foram- 50 posed of any suitable metal and fashioned in inous electrically conductive element, said eleany suitable form. ment having a face which provides an active The invention may be carried out by suitably area and a back which is substantially coextenanchoring or partially embedding the electrode sive with said face, said back being fused to and 4 in a refractory and dielectric substance such partially embedded in said support. 55

4.. An electioluminescent tube having an electrode comprising a dielectric refractory support formed to provide achamber and an electrically conductive element arranged vwithin said chamber/said element being fused to and partially embedded in the walls denmitmg said chamber.

.5. n elec'trclumines :e'lit tube having;y an electodeV comprising a dielctridrefiactory support formed to provide :if-chamber `and a cylindrical ll0 electrically conductve'element-'fused to and partially embedded in the walls delimitng said chamber. Y

6. An electroluminescent tube having an electrode comprising a dielectric refractory support formed to provide a chamber and a cylindrical foraminous electrically conductive element arranged Within said chamber, said element being fused to and partially embedded in the walls delimiting said chamber.

ALFRED L. BRANDT, Sn. 

